box for falcon

[Cyclone]

i have a saker who doesnt hood an i have been thinking about making him a box, i understand that the box needs to be totally blackened out (imprint) but does anyone have any dimensions etc... also i will probley make the box out of plywood
any comments appreicated cheers
cyclone

[Osiris]

i have a saker who doesnt hood an i have been thinking about making him a box, i understand that the box needs to be totally blackened out (imprint) but does anyone have any dimensions etc... also i will probley make the box out of plywood
any comments appreicated cheers
cyclone
Why doesnt your saker hood? Why would you be thinking about making him a box, you should really have one in the first place if you where going to take him out and fly him etc...

[Cyclone]

he didnt hood when i got him and so far i have tryed once and he f**ked off on me but now i need a box as he will be traveling up to the centre etc also when the weather starts to turn i can box him up if its cold
cyclone

[Osiris]

Take it you didnt get him from young??????????

It still possible to hood a falcon/hawk if they weren't hooded from the first time you get them at young. Its a quite lengthy process but well worth it.

As for the box and the winter. My falcon and hawk have a mews next to their aviary with a tubular heater for when it gets cold in the winter or other seasons when its cold.

You said: "...so far i have tryed once and he f**ked off on me..."
How could he f*ck off on you... Did you try and hood him when he was teathered on your glove? or when he just had flying jess on? and he managed to slip free?

Get him comfortable on your fist (teathered), show him the hood whilst sitting with him, "stroke" it on his chest very gently now and then so he is not bothered with it so much, then try and put it on him. It wont be so easy to begin with but it'll get better.

[Cyclone]

kk, i meant when i took the hood off him and chucked him up and off he went but he was extermerly irate while i was trying to hood him and must hav got pis*ed off
cyclone

[Osiris]

you chuck your falcon off the fist?

When your trying to make your falcon to the hood for the first time, you dont fly it straight after it... it might be quite stressed after the hassle of trying to get the hood on/off

[Cyclone]

got the hood out last night and showed him it and he was screamin at its with his wings out an hackles up an he aint seen it for 5 month! ive decieded 2 go ahead with the box afta seein him like that dunt want 2 stress him out
cyclone

[OhMyGod]

sometimes people succeed in hood training if they start off in a nearly dark room. then once he is hooding in the dark increase the light slightly.

[GrendlesGirl]

Do you have pet carriers in your area? We use them here in the US, we turn the carrier upside down, make a U perch out of PVC pipe and fasteners from the local hardware store, put astroturf in the bottom. For the light You can can put vents over the holes in the box, these are the type of ents used in the roofs of houses, that way they darken out the light and provide ventilation. Put thick black towel or cut out light masonite or pressboard for the door. All can be attached with zip-ties. All can be done for under 50 dollars and a couple of hours and much more lightweight and easier to clean than plywood. What do you think? Let me know if you want to see a picture.

As far as hooding goes I recommend just keep hooding every day. If your falcon bates when you try to hood it remember to keep your arm close to your body. Moving the falcon away from the hood will only reward her behavior. Once you have the hood on have her sit with it on for abit so she learns that hooding does not mean something bad will happen. I have had to do this with my smart hawk, because I did not hood her all summer.

[Cyclone]

hey GrendlesGirl
cud ya post some pictures up please it could be an idea
cheers cyclone